Car-couplfng



(No Model.)

H. H. EVERETT.

COUPLING.

GAR

Patented Sept. 10, 1889. 4

H INVENTUH M; V W

ATTORNEY l l l l WITNESSES: Mme? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. EVERETT, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

'CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,667, datedSeptember 10, 1889.

Application filed June 1'7, 1889. Serial No. 314,645- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY H. EVERETT, of the city and county of Passaic,in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Car-Couplings, whereof the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal section exhibiting the device in readiness forcoupling. Fig. 2 is a like section showing the parts in a differentposition. Fig. 3 is an eX- terior view of the draw-head. Fig. 4- showsthe device as in use on a car.

My invention relates to automatic coupling devices and embraces the useof a latch or tumbler acting by gravity to engage the coupling-link,with which is combined mechanism for elevating the tumbler and holdingit up while the coupling-link is inserted in the act of coupling one carwith another, and also when uncoupling the cars.

The device is adapted for operation and use without requiring anattendant to pass be tween the cars.

A indicates the draw-head, constructed with a cavity B within the topand a correspondin g slot central and lengthwise in the bottom.

0 is the mouth of the draw-head.

D is a latch or tumbler arranged in the cavity B and pivoted at itsfront end, where it abuts against the inside of the draw-head at thefront. The free end reaches obliquely down and back into the throat ofthe drawhead, where it engages and holds the coupling-link L.

Beneath the tumbler is a vibrating camtoe E, whose office is to lift thetumbler and hold the same poised on the end thereof during the couplingand uncoupling operations. This toe is made fast to a rock-shaft F,lying across the head A and journaled therein, the toe being disposedcentrally of the tumbler and of the head A within the slot aforesaid inthe lower part of the draw-head.

Upon the rock-shaft F outside of the drawhead is an arm G, whoseposition, as here shown, corresponds to that of the toe E, pointing inthe same direction.

A chain His attached to the end of arm G, and is led to and passesthrough a guide I on the draw-head, from whence it may be carried to theside of the car or to the top, as indicated in Fig. 4.

In operating my improved coupling the preferable way is to first elevatethe tumbler D by means of the vibrating toe E, the end being thrown upfrom a horizontal position such, for example, as shown in dotted lines,Fig. 1to the upright state shown in full lines in that figure, where itremains until forcibly thrown down. To aid the toe in maintaining itselfupright, the tumbler has a depression formed therein underneath, and theend of the toe enters it, and thus tends to retain the toe upright, sothat it will not fall of itself, and yet leaves it free to be moved whenforce is applied. In thus setting the device for coupling it will beevident that the necessity of an attendant going between the cars isobviated. The coupling-link L, (attached to an adjacent car,) being nowmade to enter the mouth of the draw-head, comes in contact with thecam'toe and pushes it over, allowing the tumbler to fall into and engagethe link, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2.

\Vhen the tumbler is to be disengaged, the cars are slackened up, sothat the inner end ofthe link moves back to the dotted lines a a,whereupon the arm G is made to turn the rock-shaft F, as by a pull onthe chain or otherwise, and thus swing up the toe, throwing out thetumbler, the toe rising through the link. The toe is capable of assumingthe horizontal in two positions, forward and rearward, from either ofwhich it may be oscillated thus to throw out the tumbler, and istherefore double-actin g. The tumbler is now disconnected from the linkL; but the toe has taken its place. In separating the cars, however, thetoe offers no resistance to the pull of the link thereon and fallsforward to a horizontal position, allowing the tumbler to drop again,leaving the tumbler in the condition shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

I have thus shown the mode of operating my improved coupling in thatwhich I deem the best manner.

The device may, however, be operated in coupling the cars by the moreusual practice of thrusting the link directly against the tumbler, theparts being in the condition shown in Fig. 2, and the tumbler yieldingto allow the link to slip past, and then falling into the link when thelatter is fully entered. WVhen operated in this manner for engagement,it matters not What 'way the toe lies, whether pointing forward or tothe rear.

In uncoupling the cars are moved to slacken up the parts, and the toe Eis turned up to throw out the tumbler and hold the same elevated, asbefore specified, leaving it in readiness for re-engagement. In this, aswell as that first described, the action of the link is automatic in thecoupling operation, and it will be evident that in any condition of theparts the device is always ready in coupling up to receive and engagethe link automatically, no matter in what position the parts are left,whether the tumbler be elevated or not.

Although I have shown the arm G and camtoe E as disposed on therockshaft F substantially coincident, the arm G may be differentlyplaced with respect to the cam-toe. Likewise the guide may be set in anylocation most convenient for the successful working of the couplingdevice, according to the location and arrangement of the parts.

In the foregoing improvements I shall not, therefore, confine myself tospecific forms or special arrangement.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the draw-head having atumbler pivoted therein and abutting against the inside of the head atthe front, of a cam disposed in a slot in the head beneath the tumblerand adapted to lift the tumbler and hold the same poised on the end ofsuch toe While the coupling and uncoupling take place.

2. In combination with the draw head having the tumbler pivoted thereinand the slot in the head beneath the tumbler, the double-action cam-toeaffixed to a rock-shaft and carrying an arm G, placed outside thedraw-head and operated to the right or left, according to circumstances,whereby the tumbler may be disengaged by swinging up the cam-toe eitherfrom the front or rear, as the case may be, as set forth;

3. In combination with the double-acting cam-toe, the guide I onthedraw-head, the arm G, made fast to the rock-shaft carrying thecam-toe, and the chain H, attached to the arm G and passing throughsaidguide.

HENRY H. EVERETT.

Witnesses:

MANLEY A. RAYMOND, JOHN G. HATTON.

